KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri has refuted claims that her ministry kept quiet on the death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir.
The Women, Family and Community Development Minister says immediate action was taken through the Social Welfare Department (JKM).
“We did not keep quiet. When incidents like this happen, the JKM is the first to meet the mother to offer the services we have,” she said.
“Beyond that, we need to know what else is required because many parties are involved, and there are other agencies too,” she said.
She spoke to reporters after launching the Child Protection Advocacy Programme at the Kerinchi Child Activity Centre on Saturday (Aug 9).
Nancy expressed condolences to the family and says the ministry empathises with the parents’ loss.
“As parents ourselves, we know the feeling, even when a child has a fever – what more if something like this happens,” she said.
“We do not yet know the outcome as the matter is with the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) and the police. we will follow developments closely,” added Nancy.
Nancy stressed the importance of public awareness, especially among children, of their rights.
She pointed to the 15999 Talian Kasih helpline as a key channel for reporting abuse and neglect.
“We do not want children to feel they are not cared for. Such incidents should never happen at school or at home,” she said.
“When our child comes home and tells us about something that happened at school or elsewhere, we must listen. We must take the necessary action,” added Nancy.
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, who was also present, hopes the investigation papers on Zara’s case will be completed soon.
“As we know, the AGC ordered the police to return the investigation papers and exhume Zara’s body for a post-mortem,” he said.
“This morning, the Home Minister also said the process will be carried out immediately,” he added.
“We leave it to the authorities, and God willing, the Home Ministry and Bukit Aman will handle the process properly without delay,” he said.
“We hope the investigation papers will be completed soon so the deputy public prosecutor can decide. We believe this will bring anyone guilty to justice,” he said.
On Friday (August 8), the AGC said that Zara’s body would be exhumed for a post-mortem to ensure all aspects of the case are thoroughly examined.
Zara was confirmed dead at Queen Elizabeth I Hospital, Kota Kinabalu, on July 17.
She was found unconscious in a drain near the dormitory of a religious school in Papar at about 4 am on July 16.
